Value Added Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 3

Value Added - Essay Example The unit profit is arrived at by calculating the difference between the production cost and the sale price. In order to determine the total value added is obtained by adding all the value added figures of all the units. Essentially, the difference between revenue and outside purchases is equivalent to total value added. In terms of analysis, the figure obtained of value added offers a range of interpretations. For instance, integrated companies usually regard value added as a higher portion of revenue whereas companies that are less integrated consider it as a lower portion of revenue. Another method of approximating total value added is by combining total labor expense, operating profit, and depreciation expense in that order (Mowen, Hansen, & Heitger, 2012). According to standard procedure, the operating profit must come before depreciation expense. Labor expense includes such items as benefits, wages, and salaries. The figure of total labor expense is usually considered as a retur n to labor while the value of operating profit is generally considered as a return to capital. Capital comprises of items such as land, properties, and capital goods. Normally, it is considered important to follow the standard procedure when arriving at the different figures. Factors of production are usually considered in terms of value added when determining the figure of value added in macroeconomic calculations. Calculating value added in national accounts usually involves capital and labor (Mowen, Hansen, & Heitger, 2012). Alternative definitions usually consider value added as the extra features, which extend over standard expectations of a given product or a service. Such items do not involve the cost of the product. According to some theoretical approaches, value added is considered as the difference in the prices incurred by a company over a product and the price paid by a customer for the same customer. As such, arriving at the figure of value added is through the determin ation of the difference in the prices. The figure is obtained by subtracting the company’s cost from the customer’s cost and then adding the figure of services to the results. Theoretically, value added could be understood in terms of the different enhancements that a business puts on a particular product with the objective of increasing the value of the product (Mowen, Hansen, & Heitger, 2012). In this manner, value added is considered as a determination of the different qualities that are created on a given product or service. Value added can increase the price of a give product or its value. Generally, value added is considered as one of the ways in which a firm enhances the competitive advantage of its products or services. Other perspectives on value added describe it as an increase in the value of goods or services as they transit from one stage of production to another.  

Australian education trends Essay Example for Free

Australian education trends Essay It is often known that education forms the backbone of economic development and growth in any nation. The investment in pre-school, primary and secondary education as well as community college education ensures availability of human capital endowed with relevant skills and knowledge for enhanced productivity. This has proven to be a necessity for sustained economic development in any country in the world. Educated people are in no doubt different from the uneducated or less educated in a variety ways (Tiffen, Gittins, 2004). At the outset, the difference is eminent in attitudes and behavior, in their well being and health status, income as well as values regarding morals, religion, politics and employment among others. By instilling these positive characteristics to individuals in the community, education has therefore transformed the world people live in from the old ignorance-ridden era to the technologically-advanced modern life (Tiffen, Gittins, 2004). Australia has experienced a steady increase in education levels in the last century. The government has in the past centralized funding of education and imposed high taxes on high income earners in an attempt to finance education. Students are not spared either in this plan and have been included in the â€Å"user pays† principle where they reimburse for the education services received. However, this scheme has affected education in many countries and how the government plans to implement the principle together with high taxation is a matter of concern. In Australia, the Government provides public funding for non-government schools as well as substantial assistance to government academic institution. Funding of state government schools is the primary responsibility of States and territories (Laporte, Ringold, 1997). These organs can also provide assistance to non-governmental institutions of learning. It is estimated that more than two thirds of the students in non-government academic institutions are affiliated to Catholic as a religion. Australian education system is a three tier model where children enroll in Kindergarten at the age of about five years, then graduate to primary followed by secondary levels from year one to twelfth year and finally tertiary education (Harrison, 2002). Education is mandatory for the children aged between five to about sixteen years but the federal government caters for the university education. This system has ensured a reduced school life expectancy thereby enhancing educational development in the country (Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, 2008). This however draws a sharp contrast to the old system. Australian education system was highly stratified and that only infants and primary education were provided for the children. Additionally, Selection for high school education was very competitive, and favored the siblings of specific people who used to be prominent in the society (Henry, 1990). These individuals included industrialists, agriculturalists as well as businessmen among other professionals. Teaching profession was undermined since the government offered low wages to the teachers in addition to subjecting them to strict laws that restricted their personal as well as professional conduct. These factors reduced the productivity of the teaching staff thereby suppressing students’ performance in schools (Henry, 1990). The tremendous increase in level of education in Australia has been largely attributed to changes in a variety of factors including social and institutional framework as well as economic changes and student financing much else besides (Evans Kelley, 2002). To start with, changes in educational levels have been associated with urbanization. The rural-urban migration brought about by the inadequacy of farmland as well as search for skilled jobs in the cities has enhanced the development of cities in Australia. This has therefore called for the provision of educational services in these highly populated regions hence increasing the educational levels. Evans Kelley (2002) estimates the changes brought about by urbanization to about six percent over the last century. Economic growth on the other hand has been articulated with the steady increase in the educational levels in Australia. This country has witnessed a considerable economic growth in the recent past. Australian GDP for instance is currently valued at 1050 billion dollars which is slightly above 1.6 percent of the world economy (Laporte, Ringold, 1997).   Australia has so far recorded steady economic growth and unlike other OECD nations it did not fall to the economic recession witnessed in the recent past (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2007). Moreover, the country has recorded a growth rate of about 3.6% annually for the last fifteen years. This has empowered the government hence its ability to fund education as well as other sectors (UNESCO/OECD World Education Indicators Program, 2005). It therefore implies that most of the Australians are able to access education compared to the past where parents used to dropout of school after compulsory education level. The current parents have therefore acquired high social status in addition to pursuing the available high skilled and well-paying professional jobs. The Australian children who hail from well educated families can now access proper education thereby increasing the levels of education in the country (Ruitenberg, 2010). Economic growth has therefore contributed to about twenty six percent education growths in Australia. This change has mainly improved education levels in both the primary education which is compulsory as well as secondary education which the educated and socially as well as economically-empowered parents can now afford (Evans Kelley, 2002).The duo however admit that the aforementioned factors only contribute to a little percentage of the sources of educational transformation so far witnessed in Australia and that the real sources of change in education trend in this century are still unclear. Youth participation in education including vocational education and training has also improved in Australia. According to Sue et al (2009) a variety of factors have influenced this upsurge in the education trends in Australia. Factors such as how the young people’s families as well as community value education, the socioeconomic status of the general population, available education and training and the school curriculum, existing policies on education and youth employment, financial incentives and obstacles, economic structure in regard to industry and occupation have changed hence improvement of youth participation in education and vocational training in Australia (Kilpatrick, Sue,  Baynes, Chapman Hazel An indexing term that provides specific identifying information in a category: geographic names, laws and legislation, or tests and testing., ()), 2009). Australia just like other developed States has recorded a steady decline in fertility rate which has brought about the ratio of two children per couple (Tiffen, Gittins, 2004). It is always presumed that the higher the number of children in a family the reduced ability of the parents to provide quality education to an individual child. This is because the available resources such as finance, energy and time are shared among the many children thereby reducing the amount received by an individual child (Evans Kelley, 2002). The reduced fertility rate in Australia has ensured reduced number of children in a family which the parents can afford to provide quality education for thus contributing to increased level of education in the country. These changes in education levels brought about by changes in family size are only noticeable in secondary schools and tertiary levels and not in primary level where the government funds education (Harrison, 2002). The government’s commitment to provide quality education has also influenced to a greater extent the steady growth in education levels so far witnessed in Australia. The Australian government has increased its spending on education of both males and females compared to the last century. There have been issues of gender inequality in education and females have been stereotyped as underperformers in the past (Evans Kelley, 2002). It is note worthy that in all countries except New Zealand; there have been lower performance by females than their male counterparts especially in mathematics literacy (Marginson, 1993). This traditional stereotype is being overcome by the Australian government through equal provision of educational services to both the sexes. Philosophers such as Martin Roland have also contributed to this issue of gender equality and education of the girl child. Roland argues that the old tradition was a barrier to the equal distribution of resources to both the sexes in the society since it discriminated against the females and favored the males. She reiterates that gender issues should be embedded in the curriculum as well as in teaching and schooling activities to ensure that the product of such a system is an ideal educated person. John Dewey is another renowned philosopher whose contribution to education, politics as well as philosophy has been globally recognized. According to Dewey, education was the cornerstone to intellectual development and progress of the society. He stressed on the improvement of moral and social nature of schools as an attempt to fostering democracy and community prosperity (Paringer, 1990). Dewey asserts that provision of education service to a single child in the society empowers the child towards self- effectiveness which consequently provides a guarantee to a lovely, worthy and harmonious society. Democracy never used to prevail in the ancient society as a result of lack of knowledge by then. According to Dewey, the nature of things should be viewed from a perspective of change and growth and therefore the continuous transformation in education is inevitable (Dewey, 2007). Nel Noddings is an additional prominent philosopher whose argument revolves around the moral reasoning, beliefs and values in education. She states that the current education trends encourages moral development hence the need to adopt educational structures that incorporates ethics and the use of motherly interest to inform moral learning. She however blames politics that fulfills the interests of particular groups for threatening the establishment of strong ethical foundation of learning as well as teaching in the academic institution (Palmer, Bresler, Cooper, 2001). Conclusion Education in Australia has undergone commendable changes since the first half of the last century. The Australian government as well as other stakeholders in the educational sector has contributed towards the social progress which is primarily dependent on the enhanced education standards in the country. Education has so far transformed from the old system characterized by repugnant traditions and values to the modern technologically- advanced era where education is the basic requirement for community sustainability. The progress in science and technology in the current era has created the knowledge and skills necessary for the developed industrial economy, while growth of education has provided workforce that is needed to utilize these new opportunities. Australia currently enjoys a socially-friendly environment with high paying professional jobs as well as improved living standards courtesy of development witnessed in the education sector. Reference List: Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (2008). Trends shaping education. OECD   Publishing. Dewey, J. (2007). Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education.   NuVision Publications, LLC.   Evans, M. Kelley, J. (2002). Australian economy and society, 2001: education, work, an   welfare. Federation Press. Harrison, J. (2002). Excel senior high school: community and family studies. Pascal Press. Henry, M. (1990). Understanding schooling: an introductory sociology of Australian education.

Assessing The Strategy Of Blue Ocean Commerce Essay

Assessing The Strategy Of Blue Ocean Commerce Essay The market set is divided into two categories which are called oceans: Blue Oceans and red oceans. Red oceans are the known market space as it exists today, with all the various industries. Competitive rules are defined and barriers are clear and accepted. Competition exists among players to gain a bigger share; the more players are on the market, the fewer prospects for profit and growth is existent. Cutthroat competition turns the red ocean bloody. Blue Oceans on the other hand represent the opposite they are the unknown market space with industries that are not existent today. Demand is not created by competitive rivalry, because the rules of the game are yet to be set. There is substantial opportunity for profitable growth because of the deep potential of market space that is not yet explored.  [2]   To be successful in economic performance most companies are laying the focus on competitive strategies, plenty of enthusiasm is spend on analyzing and outperforming rivals. Using the vocabulary of the authors their focus is on red ocean strategies. In the future this will not be enough to survive; in addition to swim in a red ocean companies need to create Blue Oceans.  [3]  The following image illustrates the major differences between red and Blue Oceans. Image 1: Comparison of Red Ocean with Blue Ocean strategy  [4]   Value Innovation The basis of the Blue Ocean Strategy is called Value Innovation. Competition is made irrelevant by creating value for both buyers and the company. Buyer value is created by the benefit and price that the company offers to the consumer; value to the company is created from the price and its cost structure therefore only if those two variables are aligned the strategy works. The innovation of a product/ service must create value for the market and eliminate features that are not valued by the current market. New and uncontested market space is made accessible by simultaneously differentiate and reducing costs. This strategy is contrary to common management strategies which propose that companies can either create value to customers at higher costs or create reasonable value at lower costs.  [5]  According to the authors Value Innovation is a strategy that embraces the entire system of a companys activities.  [6]  Image 2 illustrates Value Innovation. Image 2: Value Innovation  [7]   Analytical tools and framework There are three basic tools that will help companies to build a Blue Ocean Strategy. The strategy canvas The strategy canvas is a tool that helps to build a Blue Ocean Strategy. It highlights the current situation in the known market space and shows the offering level that buyers receive across several key competing factors. By illustrating these factors in a simple matrix a graphic description in form of a value curve is visible. This value curve shows a companys relative performance within its industrys factors of competition.  [8]  By illustrating the current situation of an industry the strategic focus can be shifted away from current competition to alternatives and noncustomers, a redefinition of the industry can be constructed.  [9]  Image 3 illustrates a strategy canvas with an example of an Airline. Image 3: Strategy Canvas  [10]   The four actions framework This tool uses four key questions to lead to a new value curve: Which of the factors that the industry takes for granted should be eliminated? Which factors should be reduced well below the industrys standard? Which factors should be raised well above the industrys standard? Which factors should be created that the industry has never offered?  [11]   The first two questions give an insight in how to reduce the cost structure in comparison to other players in the industry. Question 3 and 4 give insight into how to lift buyer value and create new demand.  [12]   The eliminate-reduce-raise-create-grid This tool is supplementary to the four actions framework. It gives companies the possibility to act on all four questions answered before to create new value. The four factors of what to eliminate, reduce, raise and create are put in a matrix and by that scrutinize every factor the industry competes on.  [13]   Formulating Blue Oceans strategies Reconstruct market boundaries In order to break away from the competition the first principle is to reconstruct market boundaries. The challenge is to find possibilities of Blue Ocean opportunities. During performing research across various industry sectors the authors found a basic approach to remaking market boundaries, the six path framework.  [14]  This framework is applicable in all kinds of industries and all are based on looking at data from a new perspective. These are the six paths: Path 1: Look across alternative industries Path 2: Look across strategic groups within industries Path 3: Look across the chain of buyers Path 4: Look across complimentary product and service offerings Path 5: Look across functional or emotional appeal to buyers Path 6: Look across time  [15]   By analyzing each of the single paths companies will be able to get an insight into how to open up Blue Oceans by rebuilding market realities and leave behind conventional boundaries of competition.  [16]   Focus on the big pictures, not the numbers The approach to the strategic planning process is based on drawing a strategy canvas, as it is explained in the section of analytical tools and framework of this document. A structured process for developing a strategy canvas has been developed, which is called the Visualizing Strategy.  [17]  As the name implies, this process uses visual stimulation with the purpose to unlock peoples creativity. The main focus here is laid on the big picture rather than on defined numbers and operational details.  [18]   Reach beyond existing demand To achieve a maximization of the size of the Blue Ocean you are creating the focus should be laid on two things: The analysis of non-customers and finding out strong similarities of what buyers value.  [19]  This is a reversed approach to common strategies, where the focus is on customers and customer differences. The three tiers of non customers The challenge is to find out who the non-customers are and get a deep understanding of them. The authors describe three tiers of non-customers that eventually can be transformed into customers. The first tier of non-customers is closest to your market and would stay and increase their frequency of purchases if a leap in value would be offered to them. These non-customers also referred to as soon-to-be.  [20]  The second tier of non-customers is further away from your market and aware of offerings in it but has consciously voted against them. These non-customers are also referred to as refusing.  [21]  The third tier of non-customers is farthest from your market and has never considered its offerings as an option. These non customers are also referred to as unexplored.  [22]   By analyzing each of the three tiers an understanding of the non-customers can be developed to attract them into your market and expand your Blue Ocean.  [23]   Get the strategic sequence right The fourth principle of Blue Ocean Strategy focuses on the challenge to build a sustainable business model that will make profit on your Blue Ocean idea. The idea here is to use sequences and key criteria within a sequence to reduce business model risk.  [24]  Each sequence has a key question that has to be asked. If answered with no the sequence has to be reshaped. If answered with yes one can move on to the next sequence. The four sequences are: Buyer utility: Is there exceptional buyer utility in your business idea? Price: Is your price easy accessible to the mass of buyers? Cost: Can you attain your cost target to profit at your strategic price? Adoption: What are the adoption hurdles in actualizing your business idea? Are you addressing them up front?  [25]   With this sequencing as a starting point further analyzing of strategic pricing, target costing and finally the profit model is developed.  [26]   Executing Blue Ocean Strategy Overcome key organizational hurdles The challenge to execute the strategy of Blue Oceans is significant, since there are changes made from the conventional way of doing things. The authors present four common hurdles in the execution: The cognitive-, political-, motivational- and resource hurdle. Dealing with those challenges in form of hurdles with tipping point leadership is the key to make Blue Ocean Strategy happen in action.  [27]   Build execution into strategy The sixth principle of the Blue Ocean Strategy is about building commitment and trust into the strategy from the start. The focus is laid on a fair process as a key variable that distinguishes successful Blue Ocean Strategy moves from those that failed.  [28]   Case analysis In this section, we intend to describe and analize two cases of innovative companies (Virgin Galactic and Petrobras) based on the Blue Ocean theory. Virgin Galactic Description of Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic is a company which belongs to the Virgin Group. This group was founded 1970 by Sir Richard Branson and is one of the leading brand venture capital organizations of the world. The group has created more than 300 branded companies in a variety of different industries, employs around 50,000 people and generated revenue of approx. US$ 18 billion in the year 2009.  [29]  Based on them the success of this group derives from the power of the Virgin name, Richard Bransons personal reputation; our unrivalled network of friends, contacts and partners; the Virgin management style; the way talent is empowered to flourish within the group.  [30]   The Virgin Galactic company has the aim of making private space travel available to everyone by creating the worlds first commercial spaceline.  [31]  Virgin Galactic will create, own and operate spaceships, the SpaceShipTwo. To achieve this goal the Virgin Group uses it experiences in aviation, adventure and luxury travel combining with the technology developed by Burt Rutan. The company was founded in the year 2004 and is located in New Mexico. The SpaceShipOne became the first private spaceship with high altitude-flights in the year 2004. The successor of this technology, the SpaceShipTwo, has seats for two pilots and six passengers. Every passenger has to pay US$200.000 with a deposit ofUS$20,000. At the moment 340 passengers have registered for this service.  [32]  So far 450 people have ever been to space, the goal of Virgin Galactic is to take 1,000 people to space within the first year of commercial operation.  [33]  The first commercial flight shall start in the year 2012.  [34]   The mothership of the SpaceShipTwo, the WhiteKnightTwo, will take the SpaceShipTwo to a height of about 16km and then release it. At that point the rockets of the SpaceShipTwo will boost and bring it to a height of about 100km.  [35]  There it will fly for about five minutes in which the passengers have a magnificent view at the earth and can enjoy weightlessness. Afterwards the space ship will decrease the altitude and land at its base in New Texas. The first flying tests of the WhiteKnightTwo were executed successfully and the SpaceShipTwo completed the first manned glide flight in October 2010.  [36]   At current stage the company Blue Origin which is based close to Seattle is also working on a private space ship.  [37]   Analysis of Virgin Galactic The analysis will start by discussing the Value Innovation of Virgin Galactic. So far tourism in space was available for seven specific persons who paid in average US$ 25 million for staying about 14 days at the ISS.  [38]  The clear buyer benefit of Virgin Galactic is to make this tourism available for nearly everybody who can afford paying the US$200,000 which is less than 1% of the price so far. Moreover, these space trips also add value to Virgin Galactic as it will earn US$200,000 for every passenger having already 340 on the waiting list. Virgin Galactic clearly succeeded in creating a Value Innovation. In the following the strategy canvas for Virgin Galactic will be developed to see the value curve in comparison to its competitor the stay at the ISS.  [39]   As principal factors the following was defined: price, safety, request for personal attributes and easy preparation for the trip.  [40]  As seen in image one the Virgin Galactic company enables a much more comfortable and convenient stay as the previous tourism on the ISS. This is also based on the lower requirements a person has to fulfill to be able to execute this tourism and the lower time-investment. Image 4: Strategy Canvas of Virgin Galactic  [41]   Considering the four action framework Virgin Galactic reduced the costs by eliminated the factors that a stay in space has to be combined with a long duration and cost-intensive stay at the ISS and with cost-intensive rocket starts. Furthermore, they created the factor that nearly everybody would be able (from physical requirements  [42]  ) to go to space with a low time-investment and a comparably low amount of money. They increased the convenience of space-tourisms to a very high extent. In conclusion, they managed to dramatically reduce the costs while increasing the perceived value of the passengers which are interested in some minutes of weightlessness and seeing the earth from the space. Virgin Galactic also concentrated on the so called non-customers as the total number of customers was seven so far. They identified the implicit wish of most people to go to space once. Organizational hurdles The cognitive hurdle cannot be applied as Virgin Galactic did not start in a red ocean but directly entered the Blue Ocean with the start of the company. The hurdle resources will probably be not a big burden as the first flying tests went successful, customers on the waiting list already paid close to US$7 million as deposit and Sheikh Mansour invested US$280 million in this business.  [43]  Furthermore, the Virgin Group and the state of New Mexico are supporting this business. The motivation of the employees and managers is high which is also pushed by Richard Branson personal interest in the success of this company.  [44]  The political hurdle could be implemented by making new laws for required safety standards. But already in 2004 the US congress passed a law which allows passengers to fly into space with the understanding that these vehicles might not be as safe as regular airplanes. Furthermore, the governor of New Mexico supports this company  [45]  and the Virgin group has a high political power. In conclusion all the hurdles were passed successfully by Virgin Gallactic. Build execution into strategy From the beginning Richard Branson declared the vision of this company to make private space travel year 2004. Conclusion In final conclusion, Virgin Galactic entered a Blue Ocean from the beginning. It decreased the costs and made space travel available to everyone by creating the worlds first commercial spaceline. Virgin Galactic works towards this clear vision with having the first commercial flights very likely eight years after its foundation in the previous tourism in space and increased the value of it by leveraging especially the convenience for the customers. Moreover, it went beyond known customer space by offering this service for less than 1% of the costs so far. It managed the organizational hurdles and created a strong vision from the start. Although other companies as e.g. Blue Origin try to create space tourisms this ocean is deep blue so far for Virgin Galactic. Petrobras Description of Petrobras Petrobras was established on October 3, 1953 by the president of Brazil, Getà ºlio Vargas, to undertake oil sector activities in the country. In the early 1970s, the members of the Organization of the Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose the international prices substantially, triggering the so-called Oil Shock. As a result, the market was troubled and marked by uncertainty. In order to overcome the difficulties, the Brazilian government adopted economic measures in order to overcome the supply of oil. Some examples of these measures were the encouragement for use of ethanol as automotive fuel and prioritizing offshore exploration and production. With the measures, the government intended to reduce the dependency on importing a very expensive product and to create an industry to create jobs and exports. These tasks where given to Petrà ³leo Brasileiro (Petrobras) for being executed.  [46]   Producing ethanol for powering the nation 1975 marks the beginning of the production of Ethanol by Petrobras in Brazil aiming to drive the large-scale substitution of oil based vehicular fuels for biofuels. Substituting gasoline for ethanol (produced from sugarcane and manioc) led to 10 million fewer gasoline fuel cars running in Brazil, reducing the countrys dependence on imported oil.  [47]   Today Brazil is recognized as the world leader in the production of ethanol for industrial purposes, based on the most advanced agricultural technology for sugarcane cultivation in the world and to the amount of arable land available in the country. In 2010, the Brazilian ethanol produced by Petrobras was designated as one of the most advanced biofuels due to the 61% reduction of green house gas emissions.  [48]   Pioneering in deep waters In 1984 the company discovered one of the biggest reserve in deep water ever registered in the world. The Albacora field was discovered; proving the existence of giant fields nestled at great depth in Brazil. This marked the beginning in deepwater exploration for the company. By 1986 the company, which until then purchased technology, was faced with the challenge of producing oil at a depth of 400 meters. After surveying the market and finding out there was no technology available for this depth, the company decided to invest in developing new technologies. This was an extremely ambitious project, since, at the time, Petrobras had been exploring at depths of 150 meters and had plans for 1000 meters by 1990. This project turned out to be a great success and the company is currently the global leader in this area. By 2005, Petrobras sets the record of drilling depth with a sloped that reached 6915 meters beyond the bottom of the sea.  [49]   Petrobras achieves self sufficiency In 2006 Brazil became a self-sufficient country in oil and gas production. With an average of 1.9 million barrels per day, Brazil went on to exporting more oil and oil products than it imported. It was like a dream came true, only possible because of the technological efforts and dedication of the employees. Since this point, Petrobras is the most profitable company in the Brazilian economy, being recognized as the eighth biggest oil exploring company in the world.  [50]   In the upcoming years, Petrobras intends to invest in using and developing new renewable energy sources. The portfolio of new projects includes wind, solar and water energy sources and fuel hydrogen. The intention is to reduce even more the dependency on oil, delivering the necessary energy sources to Brazil in order to sustain the intended growth of the upcoming years. Analysis of Petrobas Petrobras success can be summed up in one word and that word is innovation. This company faced the challenge of turning one of the biggest countries in the Americas from a big consumer of imported oil to self sufficient in oil and gas production. This strategy was based on focusing on the big picture (producing its own oil and become an exporter of petroleum) rather than finding a temporary solution for importing oil in the 70s, when the biggest crisis of oil prices occurred. Value Innovation They broke away from the competition by reconstructing market boundaries. For each challenge they faced, they were able to create and develop the necessary technology that didnt exist in the market, becoming a leader in deepwater oil drilling. They reached beyond their existing demand by having more oil available than they need for their own consumption. They also created value to the country by reducing the amount of CO2 in 61% emitted by cars and public transportation thanks to the introduction to ethanol and biodiesel. Brazil became a more efficient country thanks to the use of their natural resources for powering the nation. By mixing ethanol with oil, Petrobras has managed to increase the value for customers by creating a reduction of oil prices  [51]  and by guaranteeing the oil supply they reduced the dependency on foreign companies. Strategy canvas We have decided to explain the differences between the two largest producers of Ethanol in the world, Brazil and U.S.A. As we have mentioned before, Petrobras is the only company responsible for the production and distribution of ethanol in Brazil. Image 5: Stragegy Canvas Petrobas  [52]   As we can see in the figure xx, Brazil is the second largest producer of Ethanol in the world (6,500 million gallons in 2009  [53]  ) behind the United States (10,900 million gallons in 2009  [54]  ). But, the total area used by Brazil for cultivating their sugar cane (3.6 million hectares  [55]  by 2006) is far less than the land used by the United States (10 million hectares  [56]  in 2006). This means that the productivity per hectare is superior in Brazil than in the United States. Another important thing to mention is that thanks to the mixture of Ethanol and oil in Brazil, green house gas reduction has been reduced considerably (89%  [57]  ), increasing the value the company gives to their customers. Organizational hurdles The hurdles are based on the theory mentioned in the first section of this project. During the oil crisis of the 70s, the company faced the challenge of completely changing the paradigm of production. In the cognitive hurdle, we can say that the employees understood completely the need of the company and were able to transform the company. In the second hurdle resources, we can say that the company successfully understood that they needed to invest a great amount of resources in RD in order to increase the efficiency of the production of ethanol and also to raise the drilling depth for oil extraction. Motivating employees on a thirty-year-old project has been an enormous challenge for the company. They have managed to succeed by achieving small goals each year, increasing the level of satisfaction and trust towards the leadership of the company. Finally, the political hurdle was managed correctly due to the implications of the transformation project, involving the government, the management and employees of the company. Build execution into strategy As we mentioned before, the strategy was clear from the beginning: Reduce the dependency of oil and turn the country into a self-sufficient country. The facts speak for themselves, the whole company aligned in order to achieve the goal and it is an example on how to implement the Blue Ocean strategy. Conclusion So, why can the strategy of Petrobras be considered a Blue Ocean strategy? First of all they focused on creating value for the country by reducing the amount of oil imported and gaining self-sufficiency. As a consequence, they were able to reduce considerably the prices of gasoline in Brazil and the dependency of external factors to develop the country. They achieved this goal by innovating in ways to reduce consumption of oil (alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel) and exploit the potential the country had in its coasts, regardless the technology available at the times. In the last twenty years, Petrobras has become a key player in the success of Brazil to achieve development. The upcoming years for this company look really bright, thanks to the investment they are doing on other alternative means to produce electricity (water, solar and wind), improve the efficiency of alternative fuels and by creating the necessary technology for increasing the depth for deepwater drilling for oil. Discussion In the following the degree of novelty of the Blue Ocean strategy and the general criticism about this theory will be discussed. Analyzing the degree of novelty in the Blue Ocean Strategy The book The Blue Ocean Strategy was first published in 2005 and according to the two authors based on more than 15 years of research in various dimensions of this business topic and 150 successful strategic moves spanning.  [58]   As we read above the Blue Ocean Strategy aims at creating new demand in an uncontested market space. This is done by reducing the factors of competition and offering new value to t

Online Banking Essay example -- essays research papers

Online Banking: How Technology has Affected the Bank Industry Aluscine Kabia Diana Mickle Jennifer Ross Betty Tekeste University of Phoenix COM525: Managerial Communication and Ethics Edward L. Dempsey March 14, 2005 Modern technology has set the stage for today’s industries to adopt faster, more effective and efficient tools to improve their business and productivity. A vast majority of organizations within various industries are using new technology to introduce changes to their business operations. Simply stated, these changes are manifested in what they do, with whom they do it, how they do it, and the tools they use to get it done. However, it is worthwhile to note that, while technology can offer beneficial changes to organizations, change usually comes with both positive and negative consequences. In any business, if technology serves as a catalyst for improvement without significant drawbacks, adopting the changes that it brings will be more beneficial than harmful. Online banking is a technological advancement that has brought about such a change. The banking industry has adopted virtual banking to improve business process, infrastructure, and customer relationships. These changes have had a major impact on the banking business, but more transparently on the customers of online banking. The matrix measures for the improvements added by online banking can be evaluated on comparable levels of service, efficiency and cost satisfaction, for both the provider and consumer of this technology. Throughout this document, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online banking in hopes of formulating a better understanding of why banks of today are moving towards online business. While virtual banking has considerable concerns, the advantages it generates, far outweighs the disadvantages because the value added through this technology benefits both the banks, and the customers. E-banking has had a considerable impact on today’s banking business, affecting both customers and banks in multiple ways. Banking activities such as; account inquiries, depositing or transferring funds and ordering checks, can now be done remotely, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. From a business organizational point of view, this technology is changing the employee structure of the average bank. The U.S Department of labor noted in 20... ...vestorguide.com/igubankonline.html Online Banking Pages. (2005). Retrieved March 7, 2005 from the World Wide Web:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://edt.uow.edu/au/elec195/group-projects-2k/group1/Limits.html Raghunathan, A. (2003). Security worries keep many from banking online. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  March 7, 2005 from the World Wide Web:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/7388475.htm The virtual threat. (2000, May 18). The Economist. Retrieved February 11, 2005 from the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web: http://80-www.economist.com.ezproxy.appollolibrary.com What is online banking? (2003, March 28). BankRate. Retrieved March 8, 2005 from the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World Wide Web: http:// http://www.bankrate.com Wolfe, D. (2004, October 13). Why some are placing bets on in-branch online banking. American Banker. Retrieved March 9, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://www.apollolibrary.com Yip, P. (2000, October 9). Net banking not for all lifestyles, comfort levels key to online accounts. Sun Sentinel. Retrieved March 9, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://proquest.umi.com

U.S. Diplomatic Mission Attacks in Benghazi and the Aftermath

On the day of the 11th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, another attack unfolded–this time, on foreign soil, but still very much hitting close to home. Four U. S. citizens–the U. S. ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens; a Foreign Service information management officer, and two other U. S. personnel–died when members of the radical Islamist group called Ansar al-Sharia, one of many extremist Salafi groups, clashed with security forces in Benghazi after protesting near the U. S. onsulate. It has been debated what has provoked this violence, but it was initially believed that it was due to an online film considered offensive to Islam. Earlier on in the day, in Cairo, there were protests being executed in response to the mentioned video, but whether or not those protests were related to the Benghazi attacks remained unclear in the few days following. The inflammatory video on Islam in question, titled, â€Å"Innocence of Muslim s,† is a 14-minute long film production that mocks Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.It was uploaded to the video site YouTube in July, 2012, but didn’t gain attention in the Muslim world until its broadcast on an Egyptian Islamist television station until early September. Only days after its broadcast, protests broke out in several cities throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world, including Cairo and some Western countries. Not only were there marches and shouting of anti-U. S. slogans, there was also the burning of U. S. and Israeli flags as well as the burning of some buildings generally associated with the U. S.Islam strictly prohibits any depictions of the prophet Muhammad, unlike in Christianity, where Jesus is often depicted through paintings and sculptures, which Christians tend to worship. While some Islamic leaders praised reaction to the film, and called for further protesting and burning of U. S. -associated objects, such as flags, others Middle Ea stern leaders, such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, condemned the attacks and reactions to the incendiary film, while also condemning the film itself. President Obama himself condemned the film, but reiterated that it was not an excuse for the violence that was carried out.The filmmaker, once believed to be an Israeli Jew, is now believed to be an Egyptian-American Coptic Christian after it was revealed that he had operated under a false name, which landed him jail time for fraud. Egyptian Copts, the largest Christian community in the Middle East, are often the target of discrimination and attacks by militant Islamist extremist groups. Egyptian authorities ended up charging seven Coptic Christians living in the United States for insulting Islam and harming national unity, which is more symbolic than literal, for the fact that all seven live outside Egypt.The tensions between Copts and Muslims in Egypt have risen recently due to the release of the low-budget film. As protes ts continued to erupt across the Muslim world, many Libyans condemned the attacks that happened on their soil and came together in a demonstration to show the United States that the attack did not represent Libya or Libyans, with signs reading phrases such as, â€Å"Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans,† â€Å"Sorry people of America, this is not the behavior of our Islam and prophet,† and â€Å"Thugs and killers don’t represent Benghazi nor Islam. These Libyan citizens aimed to distance themselves from the attacks and the riots that ensued across the country and the world. In response to the attacks, Libya’s government vowed to cooperate with the United States in order to find the perpetrators of the now seemingly planned attack on the consulate. It is suspected that this attack had been planned for a while before its execution, and that it conveniently coincided with the onset of violent protests in response to the anti-Islamic film.Later in Septe mber, violent protests surged in Benghazi–not against the United States, but for democracy and against the Islamist militias that still control a large part of Libya–to one of which the attacks on the U. S. consulate were linked. According to demonstrators participating in the protests and ousting of the militias, Libyans have had enough of extremists a year after ousting long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, especially after the recent attacks.On the other side, those who are pro-Ansar al-Sharia protested in support of the extremist group, justifying the killing of the Americans with the offense the U. S. had committed against Islam with the release of the now notorious film. After protests calmed and subsided (at least in the media), on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, many criticized President Obama of his handling of the attacks in Benghazi. Many on the conservative right accused him of being an â€Å"apologist† for Islamic terrorism and the killing of th e four Americans.This became a hot topic in the presidential debates in October, when presidential candidate Mitt romney accused Obama of having gone on an â€Å"apology tour,† where President Obama â€Å"apologized† to other nations for American behavior, particularly in the case of the anti-Islamic film. He referenced a statement released by the U. S. Embassy in Cairo, which stated that it condemned efforts to â€Å"hurt the religious feelings of Muslims,† and that they â€Å"firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others. Romney affirmed, as well as other Conservatives, that the current administration’s response to the attacks were not to condemn them, but to apologize to those who executed them. This also led to a debate on how soon after the attacks Obama referred to the events as â€Å"terrorist attacks. † It was affirmed that he did not immediately classify the attacks as â€Å"terrorist† in nature, of which Romney accused him during one of the debates. This was a buzz topic for days in the media, as a fact check revealed that the President had actually delivered a statement the day following the attacks, condemning the actions as â€Å"acts of terror. Despite the myth having been debunked, even after the elections had ended and President Obama secured his second term in office, the handling of the events in Benghazi turned into a scandal. The suspicion remained that President Obama and the White House staff dealt poorly with the aftermath of the attacks on the U. S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. There also remain questions on the motives behind the initial descriptions that the White House gave regarding the attacks, claiming that they were â€Å"spontaneous. With much attention surrounding David Petraeus, who recently resigned his position as director of the CIA allegedly due to an extramarital affair, his description of the attacks during closed-door congressional briefings have been heavily covered in the media. Petraeus affirmed that the attacks in Benghazi were previously planned and executed by terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda. What it all boils down to, seemingly, is a game of words and semantics of â€Å"terrorism† vs. â€Å"spontaneous attacks. † The line between truth and speculation behind the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and the film that coincidentally incited protests and violence among Muslims around the world remain somewhat blurred. What has been clear from the start, though, is that the events that unfolded that day and in the days and weeks after, put pressure on an already strained relationship between the United States and the Muslim world, and provoked a new debate on the limits of freedom of speech. However, over the months following the events, it turned into a heated debate on U. S. oreign policy and the ways in which these sorts of attacks are handled when reveal ing them to the American public. Either way, consumers of media on such delicate topics–whether in the United States or abroad–are all too often caught in the crosshairs of cultural and political misunderstandings through the lenses of news outlets. Bibliography 1. ) Bash, Dana, Barbara Starr, Suzanne Kelley, and Chelsea Carter. â€Å"Ex-CIA chief Petraeus testifies Benghazi attack was al Qaeda-linked terrorism. † CNN 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. . . ) Crawford, Jamie. â€Å"President Obama on Benghazi: â€Å"I am always responsible†. † CNN 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. . 3. ) Graff, Peter, and Suleiman Al-Khalidi. â€Å"Benghazi Anti-Militia Protest: Libyan Protesters Drive Islamist Militia From Country's 2nd-Largest City. † Huffington Post 22 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. . 4. ) Jordan, Rosiland. â€Å"Angry protests spread over anti-Islam video. † Al-Jazeera 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. . 5. ) Payne, Ed, and Saad Abedi ne. â€Å"Egypt charges Coptic Christians linked to infamous video. CNN 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. . 6. ) Steinhauser, Paul. â€Å"A day after Libya attack, Obama described it as ‘acts of terror'. † CNN 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. . 7. ) Tawfeeq, Mohammed. â€Å"Hundreds in Iraq protest inflammatory anti-Islam video. † CNN 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2012. . 8. ) â€Å"Timeline: How Benghazi attack, probe unfolded. † CBS News 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. . 9. ) â€Å"US anti-Islam filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula jailed. † BBC 7 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2012. . U.S. Diplomatic Mission Attacks in Benghazi and the Aftermath On the day of the 11th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, another attack unfolded–this time, on foreign soil, but still very much hitting close to home. Four U. S. citizens–the U. S. ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens; a Foreign Service information management officer, and two other U. S. personnel–died when members of the radical Islamist group called Ansar al-Sharia, one of many extremist Salafi groups, clashed with security forces in Benghazi after protesting near the U. S. onsulate. It has been debated what has provoked this violence, but it was initially believed that it was due to an online film considered offensive to Islam. Earlier on in the day, in Cairo, there were protests being executed in response to the mentioned video, but whether or not those protests were related to the Benghazi attacks remained unclear in the few days following. The inflammatory video on Islam in question, titled, â€Å"Innocence of Muslim s,† is a 14-minute long film production that mocks Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.It was uploaded to the video site YouTube in July, 2012, but didn’t gain attention in the Muslim world until its broadcast on an Egyptian Islamist television station until early September. Only days after its broadcast, protests broke out in several cities throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world, including Cairo and some Western countries. Not only were there marches and shouting of anti-U. S. slogans, there was also the burning of U. S. and Israeli flags as well as the burning of some buildings generally associated with the U. S.Islam strictly prohibits any depictions of the prophet Muhammad, unlike in Christianity, where Jesus is often depicted through paintings and sculptures, which Christians tend to worship. While some Islamic leaders praised reaction to the film, and called for further protesting and burning of U. S. -associated objects, such as flags, others Middle Ea stern leaders, such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, condemned the attacks and reactions to the incendiary film, while also condemning the film itself. President Obama himself condemned the film, but reiterated that it was not an excuse for the violence that was carried out.The filmmaker, once believed to be an Israeli Jew, is now believed to be an Egyptian-American Coptic Christian after it was revealed that he had operated under a false name, which landed him jail time for fraud. Egyptian Copts, the largest Christian community in the Middle East, are often the target of discrimination and attacks by militant Islamist extremist groups. Egyptian authorities ended up charging seven Coptic Christians living in the United States for insulting Islam and harming national unity, which is more symbolic than literal, for the fact that all seven live outside Egypt.The tensions between Copts and Muslims in Egypt have risen recently due to the release of the low-budget film. As protes ts continued to erupt across the Muslim world, many Libyans condemned the attacks that happened on their soil and came together in a demonstration to show the United States that the attack did not represent Libya or Libyans, with signs reading phrases such as, â€Å"Chris Stevens was a friend to all Libyans,† â€Å"Sorry people of America, this is not the behavior of our Islam and prophet,† and â€Å"Thugs and killers don’t represent Benghazi nor Islam. These Libyan citizens aimed to distance themselves from the attacks and the riots that ensued across the country and the world. In response to the attacks, Libya’s government vowed to cooperate with the United States in order to find the perpetrators of the now seemingly planned attack on the consulate. It is suspected that this attack had been planned for a while before its execution, and that it conveniently coincided with the onset of violent protests in response to the anti-Islamic film.Later in Septe mber, violent protests surged in Benghazi–not against the United States, but for democracy and against the Islamist militias that still control a large part of Libya–to one of which the attacks on the U. S. consulate were linked. According to demonstrators participating in the protests and ousting of the militias, Libyans have had enough of extremists a year after ousting long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, especially after the recent attacks.On the other side, those who are pro-Ansar al-Sharia protested in support of the extremist group, justifying the killing of the Americans with the offense the U. S. had committed against Islam with the release of the now notorious film. After protests calmed and subsided (at least in the media), on the other side of the Atlantic ocean, many criticized President Obama of his handling of the attacks in Benghazi. Many on the conservative right accused him of being an â€Å"apologist† for Islamic terrorism and the killing of th e four Americans.This became a hot topic in the presidential debates in October, when presidential candidate Mitt romney accused Obama of having gone on an â€Å"apology tour,† where President Obama â€Å"apologized† to other nations for American behavior, particularly in the case of the anti-Islamic film. He referenced a statement released by the U. S. Embassy in Cairo, which stated that it condemned efforts to â€Å"hurt the religious feelings of Muslims,† and that they â€Å"firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others. Romney affirmed, as well as other Conservatives, that the current administration’s response to the attacks were not to condemn them, but to apologize to those who executed them. This also led to a debate on how soon after the attacks Obama referred to the events as â€Å"terrorist attacks. † It was affirmed that he did not immediately classify the attacks as â€Å"terrorist† in nature, of which Romney accused him during one of the debates. This was a buzz topic for days in the media, as a fact check revealed that the President had actually delivered a statement the day following the attacks, condemning the actions as â€Å"acts of terror. Despite the myth having been debunked, even after the elections had ended and President Obama secured his second term in office, the handling of the events in Benghazi turned into a scandal. The suspicion remained that President Obama and the White House staff dealt poorly with the aftermath of the attacks on the U. S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi. There also remain questions on the motives behind the initial descriptions that the White House gave regarding the attacks, claiming that they were â€Å"spontaneous. With much attention surrounding David Petraeus, who recently resigned his position as director of the CIA allegedly due to an extramarital affair, his description of the attacks during closed-door congressional briefings have been heavily covered in the media. Petraeus affirmed that the attacks in Benghazi were previously planned and executed by terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda. What it all boils down to, seemingly, is a game of words and semantics of â€Å"terrorism† vs. â€Å"spontaneous attacks. † The line between truth and speculation behind the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and the film that coincidentally incited protests and violence among Muslims around the world remain somewhat blurred. What has been clear from the start, though, is that the events that unfolded that day and in the days and weeks after, put pressure on an already strained relationship between the United States and the Muslim world, and provoked a new debate on the limits of freedom of speech. However, over the months following the events, it turned into a heated debate on U. S. oreign policy and the ways in which these sorts of attacks are handled when reveal ing them to the American public. Either way, consumers of media on such delicate topics–whether in the United States or abroad–are all too often caught in the crosshairs of cultural and political misunderstandings through the lenses of news outlets. Bibliography 1. ) Bash, Dana, Barbara Starr, Suzanne Kelley, and Chelsea Carter. â€Å"Ex-CIA chief Petraeus testifies Benghazi attack was al Qaeda-linked terrorism. † CNN 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. . . ) Crawford, Jamie. â€Å"President Obama on Benghazi: â€Å"I am always responsible†. † CNN 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2012. . 3. ) Graff, Peter, and Suleiman Al-Khalidi. â€Å"Benghazi Anti-Militia Protest: Libyan Protesters Drive Islamist Militia From Country's 2nd-Largest City. † Huffington Post 22 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. . 4. ) Jordan, Rosiland. â€Å"Angry protests spread over anti-Islam video. † Al-Jazeera 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. . 5. ) Payne, Ed, and Saad Abedi ne. â€Å"Egypt charges Coptic Christians linked to infamous video. CNN 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. . 6. ) Steinhauser, Paul. â€Å"A day after Libya attack, Obama described it as ‘acts of terror'. † CNN 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. . 7. ) Tawfeeq, Mohammed. â€Å"Hundreds in Iraq protest inflammatory anti-Islam video. † CNN 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2012. . 8. ) â€Å"Timeline: How Benghazi attack, probe unfolded. † CBS News 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. . 9. ) â€Å"US anti-Islam filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula jailed. † BBC 7 Nov. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2012. .

Films of oliver stone essays

Films of oliver stone essays Oliver Stone directed and wrote a lot of movies. Three of those movies are Any Given Sunday, Platoon, and Natural Born Killers. There are similar things in all three movies but there are many differences between them as well. Oliver Stone was born in New York City. He served in Vietnam and was released in 1968. When he returned, he went to film school and New York University. He won an Oscar and Golden Globe for writing the screenplay Midnight Express. This gave him his acclaim. He dropped in popularity when the first movie he directed, The Hand, failed. He then won an Oscar for Platoon. His most ambitious and controversial movie was JFK. (Biography Channel) Any Given Sunday is about football and its hardships. Cap Rooney is the star quarterback of the team. He takes a hard hit and is knocked out of the season. The team relies on a third string Quarterback, Willie Beaman, to lead them to victory. His performance shows the coach that the game is changing. Christina Pagniacci is the President and Co-owner of the team because of her fathers death. She pushes the team to win no matter what it takes to prove that she can make it in a mans world. She also thinks that the players and coaches are just her property and are very easy to replace. Platoon is a movie based on the Vietnam War. Chris Taylor drops out of college to join the army, feeling it is his duty to do so. While on his first trip, he gets bitten by ants and then blamed for falling asleep on watch when it was someone else. Back in the bunkers where they are safe, the men do a lot of drugs and they drink. Taylor gets caught up in these activities. The platoon gets sent to a village and Barnes killed the headmans wife. Elias fights Barnes for killing innocent people. Chris is the only one with enough sense to realize that the Vietnamese people are just people, like everyone else. Later in the movie, Barnes kills ...